Seat structure



March 18, 1930. E. c. HARTER 1,751,152

SEAT STRUCTURE v Filed March 6, 1929 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 EVAN C.VHilsttlIt, OF STU-BGIS, :MICHIGAN SEAT STRUCTURE VApplication led MarchG,

My invention relates more particularlyv to seat structures such aschairs, stools, or the like, having' a seat portion adjustablevertically'on the base of the seat structure.

My primary objects are toy provide a novel, simple and inexpensiveconstruction of means whereby the seatportioninay be quickly verticallyadjusted'either up or down and when so adjusted be securely maintained,and to provide suchy character' of means the adjustment of which willnot be aiiected by either inverting the Seatstructure or by lifting thechair by its back. 1 y

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Figure l isa view in' 'side elevation of the lower portion of a seatstructure embodying my invention. I p I 'Figure 2 is' a plan sectionalview taken at the line 2 on Fig. 1V and viewed in the direc tion of thearrow.

i Figure Sis anenlarged breken sectional View talr'enat the line 3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in rthe Vdirection of the arrow. l'

Figure 4 is a bro-ken plan sectional View 7 taken at the line 4 on Fig.Vland viewed in the direction of the arrow; and l Figure 5 a view inside elevation of a portion of the means for* holding Ithe seat por'-tion'in adjusted position and involving a set screw shown in section.

In the drawings the base portion of a stool,

chair, or the like, is represented at G, thisA base portion being shownas comprising' four equidistant-ly spaced supporting legs Z rigidly heldtogether at their inwardly deflected vertical leg portions 8 byanysuitable means, those shown comprising vertically spaced plates 9 and10.

The seat portion of the construction comprises a vertically disposedpost 11 which in practice would be provided at its upper end with a seatport-ion (not shown), and which extends at its lower end through thespace within the grouped upper ends 8 of the legs, this post extendingthrough, and being vertically adjustable in, openings 12 and 13 in theplates 9 and 10, respectively.

Cooperating with the base portion 6 and the post 11 are means forholding the post in vertically adjusted position on the base,

1,929. serial no. 344,809.

these means comprising a cup-shaped. mem-V ber 14 the upper portion ofits rinner Vsurface being'upwardly fiared throughout itsQinn'erperiphery as represented at l5, the member 14 extending between theplates9 and lO with washers 16 and 17 interposed between the lmember 14and these plates, the member 14 'and the washers being preferablydisconnected from each other and from the plates 9 and 10, the seat post11 extending downwardly through the washers A16 and 17 and through anaperture 18 inthe bottom of the member 14.

The means new being described alsocomprise a circumferential seriesofrolling bear- G0 in gs preferably in the form of spheres asrepresented at 19 which arelocated within the member 14 adjacent the`surface 15 ofthe latter and oppose the sidesurfaceofthe.post 11. f f

rlThe balls 19 are shown aslocated in pockets 20 provided in a sleevemember 2'1 positioned in the cup member 14 and surrounding the post 11,the sleeve 21 being provided with a set screw 22screwed at its inner endinto an '7" opening 23 in the sleeve 21 and extending outwardly througha cam slot 24 in the side wall of the cup member 14, this camslot beingshown as formedof an( upwardly yinclined portion 25 and a. horizontallydisposedpertiOIlQG. v

The parts of the structure described are so proportioned and arrangedlthat in the nory mal position of the parts the'balls 19'4arev wedgedbetween the tapering surface 15 and the'post 11, thereby holding vthepost against lowering.y

The post l11 is released for adjustment either up or down by raisingthesleeve 21 for lifting the balls'out of clutchingposition, this beingeffected by relatively rotating the sleeve 21 and'member 14 in adirection to cause the set screw 22 to ride u wardly alongthe'inclined'cam surface 25, 1f necessary, the operator grasping withhis two hands the member 14 and the set screw 22, respectively, andrelatively rotating these members las stated. x

4in1 Vvmatins the desired vertical adjust: ment of the post 11, theoperatorl tightens the seat-portion, means `operating to clamp saidvention, I do not wish to be understood as inv tending to limit itthereto as the samermay f seat-portion,

be variously modified and alteredwithout departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

, l. Aseat structure comprising a base, a means operating to clamp saidseat portion in vertically adjusted position, and means for releasingsaid ,'rst-named means comprising a rotary member operating to effectsuch release when raised, and means operating upon rotation of saidmember to.v

f daring surface of said member and said seat raise the latter.V y Y Y2. A seat structure comprising a base, a

seat portion in vertically adjusted position, andV means for releasingsaid first-named means comprising a rotary member operating toeffect-such release .when raised, and cam means operating upon rotationof said `inem- Y ber'to raise tlie latter,

3. A seat st-ructure comprising a base, a seat' portion, meanscomprising rolling elements interposed between said base and seatportion and operative to clamp said seat portion in vertically adjustedposition, and means 'for releasing said elements from clamping positioncomprising a rotary member operating when raised to release Lsaidelements, and means operating upon rotation of said member to raise thelatter.

4. A seat structure comprising a base, a seat portion, Y mentsinterposed between said base and seat portion and operative to clampsaid seat portion in vertically adjusted position, and means forreleasing said elements from clamping position comprising a rotarymember operating Vwhen raised to releaseV said elements, said basehaving arcam surface, and a memberV on said rotary member engaging saidcam surface to cause said rotary memberto rise upon relative movement ofsaid rotaryV member and the portionl of said base containing said camsurface.

5. A seat structure comprising a base, a seat-portion, lmeans operatingto clamp saidy seat portion in vertically adjusted position, varielmeans forV releasing said first-named means comprising a rotary memberoperating to effect such release when raised, and means operating uponrotation of said member to raise the latter, and a device for releasablymeans comprising rolling ele-.

connecting said base and seat portion totion in vertically adjustedposition, and

means ,for releasing said elements from clamping position comprising amember operating when raised to release said seat por tion for verticalmovement, said base having a cam surface and a clamp device'engagingsaid cam surface for causing said member to rise in the relativemovement of said clamp device and cam surface and operative toreleasably clamp said seat portion and4 base against relative verticalmovement.

' 7. A seat structure Acomprising a base, a seat portion, a memberon'said base and surrounding saidl seat portion and presenting anupwardly flaring inner surface, said member having a. cam surface,a'series of rolling bearings interaosed between the -upwardly post forwedging the latter in adjustedpo'sition, a sleeve surrouiidingsaid seatpost and interposed between the llatter and said member, and l on saidsleeve engaging said cam portion, for the purpose set forth.

8. A `seat structure"comprising va base, a seat portion, amember on saidbase `and surrounding said seat portion and presenting an'` upwardlyflaring inner surface, said member having a cam surface, a seriesofrolling bearings interposed between Vthe upwardly fiar` ing surface ofsaid member and said seat post for wedging the latter in adjustedposition, a sleeve surrounding said'seatA post and interposed betweenthe latter and said 'member, and a set screw screwing into saidsleeveand adapted to co-operate with said cam portion and be tightened againstsaid seat post.

EVAN C. HARTER. j

an outwardly extending projection

